Google Adds DRM To HTML5 With WebM Support In Chrome OS?

DRM, also known as Digital Repression Management, is one of the most dangerous technologies with insecure media company want to use for their ‘works’ such as online movies, games and books. While companies like Apple succeeded in getting rid of DRM from their ‘music’, now HTML5 is heading in the same direction, Google has implemented DRM in its Chrome OS with support for WebM.

Google pushed an updated for the stable channel of Chrome OS bringing it up to the version 25.0.1364.87 for Samsung Chromebooks. One of the most notable ‘features’ of this update is HTML5 on Chrome OS has been restricted with DRM. The changelog states:

HTML5 Content Decryption Module (CDM) with WebM support.

So now WebM trans-coded videos can also be restricted with DRM on Google’s Chrome platform.

This build also contains a number of new features, bug fixes and security improvements. Machines will be receiving updates over the next several days.

It’s really bad news that instead of getting rid of DRM, Google has started implemented it in its Chrome OS.

Editor picked user comment:David Greengas writes on our Google+ page: Google has long had DRM support built-in to Android. They are definitely not against it. Before Google can take a true stand against DRM, it needs leverage. That means that it needs content providers to adopt WebM. This will not occur without DRM at this time. Once the content providers are entrenched in WebM, Google has the power to control the content providers instead of the other way around.

Once in control, they can user their influence to suggest a better market. They are starting to do this with mobile phones and their carrier dominance by introducing the Nexus line. Carriers are starting to realize the Google name means something in the mobile market. Content providers will realize the same and begin to lose their influence on DRM schemes.

About Swapnil Bhartiya

A free software fund-a-mental-ist and Charles Bukowski fan, Swapnil also writes fiction and tries to find cracks in the paper armours of proprietary companies. Swapnil has been covering Linux and Free Software/Open Source since 2005.
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